MATCH PREVIEW: WATFORD VS ARSENAL

Arsenal will take on Watford away from in the Premier League this Saturday, with both London clubs still looking for their first win of the season ahead of September’s international break.

On one side we have an Arsenal team desperate to not fall further behind its league title competitors, whereas the Hornets, due to form, will be eyeing up their clash with the north Londoners as one of their most favourable, with Manchester United at home just around the corner.

The Gunners can, however, take confidence away from the fact that the last time they were defeated by Watford at Vicarage Road was in November 1987, having won 3-0 (away) and 4-0 (home) in the league last season.

The Gunners defeated Watford 3-0 away from home with goals from Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey.

Watford come into the game with a defeat at the hands of Gillingham in the EFL Cup. Complacency stands as new boss Walter Mazzarri’s biggest fear, having seen his side lead in each of their three clashes this season.

Seeing Arsenal in current form might be a bit of a relief, however, as the Gunners lost 4-3 to Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, much to the disgruntlement of the home support, whereas the same disappointment was evident in the stalemate against Premier League champions Leicester City.

With no defensive reinforcement to back them up, the responsibility of keeping Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney falls on the shoulders of young Rob Holding and Laurent Koscielny, who both did well in safeguarding Petr Čech’s goal from Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki last weekend.

The Gunners will also have to be wary of the threat posed by Watford’s new signing from Juventus, Roberto Pereyra, who’s been cleared to face Arsène Wenger’s side after being granted a work permit.

Could Mesut Özil and Olivier Giroud be about to start versus Watford?

Arsenal’s laboured attacking moves could be rescued by the introduction of Mesut Özil, meanwhile greater involvement from Olivier Giroud is also expected.